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The directory includes descriptions and contact information for a sampling of organizations that have undertaken financial literacy initiatives as a primary mission, government programs, fact sheets, newsletters, conference materials, publications, and links to websites.

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As of January 2011, taxpayers can use tax refunds to buy U.S. Series Savings Bonds for their own use or for someone else. Issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Series I bonds are low-risk bonds that grow in value for up to 30 years.

Assets for Independence (AFI)
AFI is a community-based approach for giving low-income families a hand up out of poverty. Utilizing existing individual and community assets, AFI strengthens communities from within through the use of matched savings accounts called Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). Through financial education, AFI demonstrates the use and impact of IDAs to help low-income individuals move toward greater self-sufficiency.

OCC Community Developments Insights: Individual Development Accounts: An Asset Building Product for Lower-Income Consumers(February 2005)
This issue examines Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) as a tool for banks and other financial institutions to encourage lower-income persons and families to save money and thus build assets for particular financial goals. It describes why banks offer IDAs, shows how banks are involved with IDAs, and addresses barriers to the growth of IDA products. The information presented here was obtained from a variety of sources including financial institutions, IDA policymakers, nonprofit service providers, and program funders. Several hundred banks participate in IDA programs, which can receive positive consideration under the Community Reinvestment Act. Appendix 1 of the Insights paper contains a resource guide for banks considering participation in an IDA program.

Prosperity Now (formerly CFED)
Prosperity Now promotes asset-building and economic opportunity strategies, primarily in low-income and distressed communities, that bring together community practice, public policy, and private markets. CFED has promoted the IDA as a means of enabling low-income individuals to develop assets and is currently drafting certification standards for IDA Programs. CFED coordinates the American Dream Demonstration (ADD), a large-scale IDA program, which has designed and implemented IDA initiatives in 13 locations around the country.

Bank On ProgramsShow

Bank On
The Bank On website provides information for current and potential Bank On programs.

Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)
The CFE Fund's mission is to leverage municipal engagement to improve the financial stability of low- and moderate-income households by embedding financial empowerment into local government structure.

Basic Financial LiteracyShow

Alliance for Investor Education
The Alliance for Investor Education is a non-profit organization of 18 associations, government agencies, and self-regulatory bodies that are leaders in investor education/financial literacy.

BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust
The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust is the educational foundation of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. Its goal is to connect targeted consumer populations to BBB services, promote consumer awareness and financial literacy, and advance business ethics in the marketplace.

BNCweb.org
BNCweb.org is a collaboration between the First Nations Development Institute and the First Nations Oweesta Corporation to support native financial educators and grassroots asset-building practitioners by bringing effective and innovative financial capability programs to native communities.

Choose to Save
Choose to Save is sponsored by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and the American Savings Education Council. This public education campaign encourages savings through all stages of life.

Financial Education Evaluation Toolkit
The Financial Education Evaluation Toolkit, offered by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NFEF), is an online resource that shows how to apply evaluation techniques to programs to document learner impact.

Money Smart
Money Smart, sponsored by the FDIC, is a financial education curriculum designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships.

National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
NEFE is a foundation dedicated to helping all Americans acquire the information and gain the skills necessary to take control of their personal finances. NEFE accomplishes its mission primarily by partnering with other concerned organizations to provide financial education to the public, and particularly to underserved individuals whose financial education needs are not being addressed by others. The NEFE also has launched a National Financial Literacy Campaign that encourages Americans to start achieving their financial goals today by accessing practical information on the Get Smart About Money website.

Society for Financial Education and Professional Development (SFEPD)
SFEPD develops and presents financial literacy and professional development training for individuals and organizations. To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the organization works with financial and education institutions, governmental units, corporations, and foundations that support financial education and professional development programs. The U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Financial Education has recognized SFEPD seminars for meeting their criteria for effective financial education programs.

Visa's Financial Football
Financial Football, an NFL-themed educational video game, uses the NFL's structure and rules to teach money skills and to improve financial literacy. Children and adults answer question of varying difficulty about money management. The updated game is available in English and Spanish and can be played online or ordered at no cost.

Consumer Financial Protection BureauShow

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
The CFPB was created by the Dodd-Frank Act to make consumer financial markets work for consumers, responsible providers, and the economy. The CFPB's core function is to provide a single point of accountability for enforcing federal consumer financial laws and protect consumers in the marketplace. Its Consumer Education and Engagement Department consists of the following offices: Consumer Engagement; Financial Education; Students and Young Consumers; Older Americans; Servicemember Affairs; and Financial Empowerment. These offices address the specific consumer needs of their constituencies. Its website is available in numerous languages, including Spanish.

Consumer.ftc.gov
Consumer.ftc.gov is a Website from the Federal Trade Commission that offers consumer information including videos and games, a blog, and streamlined articles that highlight actionable, practical tips on a wide range of consumer topics. The site is also available Spanish.

Consumer.gov
This website from the Federal Trade Commission offers free resources for people to learn about credit, debt, identity theft, and avoiding scams, as well as budgeting, opening a bank account, shopping for prepaid cards, and managing money in general. The material may also be ordered in bulk at bulkorder.ftc.gov, and the site is available in Spanish.

National Consumer Protection Week
The Federal Trade Commission, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations have launched the National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) webpage. The website highlights the importance of consumer education and the availability of free resources to help people protect their privacy, manage credit and debt, avoid identity theft, understand mortgages and other loans, and recognize frauds and scams.

MyMoneyCheckUp
This site offered by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling analyzes users' behavior and provides customized feedback, allowing individuals and families to monitor and assess their financial lives and adjust their behavior to maximize their economic empowerment. The site is also available in Spanish.

National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
NFCC is the nation's largest and longest-serving nonprofit credit counseling organization. The NFCC's mission is to promote the national agenda for financially responsible behavior, and build capacity for its members to deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.

Disaster RecoveryShow

DisasterAssistance.gov
The Disaster Assistance Improvement Program offers DisasterAssistance.gov to provide disaster survivors with information, support, services, and a means to access and apply for disaster assistance through joint data-sharing efforts between federal, tribal, state, local, and private sector partners.

Disaster Loan Assistance
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers its Disaster Loan Assistance program, which provides federal disaster loans to businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners, and renters.

Disaster Resource Center
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers its Disaster Resource Center that provides information about specific disasters and emergencies, how to prepare, recover, and help build long-term resilience, as well as information about USDA assistance during disaster events.

Financial Preparedness
Ready.gov sponsors the Financial Preparedness website to help people plan for disasters by collecting and securing financial documents to help begin the recovery process without delay.

Volunteer & Donate Responsibly
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website contains information that includes 501(c)(3) charitable organizations providing disaster relief assistance at Volunteer & Donate Responsibly to which donations may be made directly to help with the relief.

Elder Abuse Resource Roadmap (EARR)
The U. S. Department of Justice offers EARR, which helps people who have experienced financial exploitation navigate where to go to report and/or resolve the exploitation.

Interagency Guidance on Privacy Laws and Reporting Financial Abuse of Older Adults
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Securities and Exchange Commission issued this guidance to financial institutions to clarify the applicability of the privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to reporting suspected financial exploitation of older adults.

Money Smart for Older Adults
This is an instructor-led training developed by the FDIC and the CFPB that promotes awareness among older adults and their caregivers on how to prevent elder financial exploitation and to encourage advance planning and informed financial decision-making.

National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)
NAPSA's mission is to strengthen the capacity of APS at the national, state, and local levels, to effectively and efficiently recognize, report, and respond to the needs of elders and adults with disabilities who are the victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and to prevent such abuse whenever possible.

Safe Banking for Seniors
American Bankers Association Community Engagement Foundation's Safe Banking for Seniors is a national campaign that helps older customers and their financial caregivers understand and mitigate the risks of fraud and financial abuse.

Financial Literacy and EducationShow

Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC)
FLEC was established under Title V of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act of 2003 to improve financial literacy and education of persons in the United States. The commission is chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury and composed of 22 federal agencies. The principal duties of the commission include encouraging government and private sector efforts to promote financial literacy; coordinating financial education efforts of the federal government; identification and promotion of best practices; and development of a national strategy to promote financial literacy.

MyMoney.gov
This is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. The site organizes financial education help from over 20 different federal entities that are coordinating and collaborating to strengthen financial capability and increase access to financial services for all Americans. This site is also available in Spanish.

National Strategy for Financial Literacy 2016 Update(PDF)
This is the FLEC's latest addition to the 2011 National Strategy, which established several goals for the various sectors of our economy that are seeking to improve individual financial well-being and financial literacy. This update emphasizes the progress that has been made in expanding and improving financial education, recent findings on the state of financial education and effective approaches, and trends that may affect financial education in the future.

President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans
This website was created on June 25, 2013, when the President signed Executive Order 13646. The council was charged with advising the President and the Secretary of the Treasury on how to promote financial capability among young Americans and encourage building the financial capability of young people at an early stage in schools, families, communities, and the workplace through the use of technology.

Managing Money
This is a national financial literacy partnership of Consumer Action and Capital One is the first program of its kind to combine free, multilingual financial education materials, curricula, and teaching aids with regional meetings and roundtables to train community-based organization staff so that consumers at all income levels and walks of life can be reached.

Pew Research Center - Hispanic Trends
This is the nonpartisan research organization supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Its mission is to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the entire nation. The center does not advocate for or take positions on policy issues.

Unidos US
This asset building initiative helps Latino individuals and families build wealth through assets such as homes, cars, and savings plans.

Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA)
AMBA is a not-for-profit association of banks operating on military installations, banks not located on military installations but serving military customers, and military banking facilities designated by the U.S. Treasury.

Military OneSource
This is a confidential Department of Defense-funded program providing comprehensive information on every aspect of military life at no cost to active duty, Guard, and Reserve Component members and their families.

SaveandInvest.org
SaveandInvest.org provides unbiased financial tools and information from the FINRA Foundation to help military families and all investors make informed financial decisions.

Advisory Letter 2001-1(PDF)
In AL 2001-1, the OCC provided national banks with information on the types of financial literacy programs that have been undertaken by banks and aspects of those programs that have been most important to their success.

Guidance to Encourage Financial Institutions' Youth Savings Programs and Address Related Frequently Asked Questions(PDF)
In November 2017, the OCC, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the FDIC, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and the National Credit Union Administration updated the "Guidance to Encourage Financial Institutions' Youth Savings Programs and Address Related Frequently Asked Questions" (originally issued in February 2015). The interagency guidance answers common questions, including those related to Customer Identification Program requirements, that may arise as banks, savings associations, and credit unions collaborate with schools and other community stakeholders to facilitate youth savings and financial education programs. The guidance is intended to encourage financial institutions to develop and implement programs to expand youths' financial capabilities and to build opportunities for the financial inclusion of more families. This effort is consistent with the "Starting Early for Financial Success" focus of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, a body of 21 federal agencies, including the financial regulators, and the White House Domestic Policy Council.

HelpWithMyBank.gov
The OCC's HelpWithMyBank.gov website provides answers to approximately 250 commonly-asked banking questions. While targeted at national bank customers, the site answers many questions common to all banking consumers; provides useful information about contacting regulators of state banks, thrifts, and other financial institutions; and includes an online complaint form for bank customers wishing to register their concerns to the OCC. The site is also available in Spanish.

Opinion Letter(PDF)
The opinion letter, dated November 20, 1992, is from the Office of Thrift Supervision regarding the creation of a school participation program by a federal savings association.

AARP's Retirement Calculator
This financial tool has enhanced usability and accurate results. New features allow a user to develop a retirement plan for a dual-income family, and calculate and include Social Security benefits in their retirement income.

Ballpark E$timate
The American Savings Education Council's (ASEC) Ballpark E$timate is an easy-to-use, two-page worksheet that helps you quickly identify approximately how much you need to save for retirement. The Ballpark E$timate takes complicated issues like projected Social Security benefits and earnings assumptions on savings, and turns them into language and mathematics that are easy to understand.

My Retirement Paycheck
This is a website offered by National Endowment for Financial Education, that encourages individuals and couples to make smart decisions about retirement.

Planning for Retirement
This is the CFPB and Social Security Administration's tool to help consumers make informed decisions about when to claim their Social Security benefits.

When to Take Social Security: It Pays to Wait
This toolkit, offered by the National Academy of Social Insurance, includes a three-minute video (in English and Spanish), a one-page fact sheet, and a 16-page brief to educate workers nearing retirement about the advantages of delaying their Social Security benefits beyond age 62.

Small Business and Microenterprise Technical AssistanceShow

Association for Enterprise Opportunity
This is a national association of organizations committed to microenterprise development and maintains a clearinghouse of microenterprise development programs.

FinDev Gateway
FinDev Gateway, previously known as Microfinance Gateway, is an independent knowledge platform where the global financial inclusion community comes together to share lessons and ideas on making financial services work for poor people. The platform is a public good available to anyone interested in financial inclusion.

SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to encouraging the formation, growth, and success of small business through counseling and mentor programs.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA administers the Small Business Development Centers program to provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners.

Money Smart for Small Business
This is an instructor-led small business curriculum created by the SBA and FDIC designed to provide introductory-style training for new and aspiring entrepreneurs. The 13 modules provide essential information on running a small business from a financial standpoint.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Grant Program (VITA)
VITA offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. To locate the nearest VITA site, call (800) 906-9887.

Financial Health Network
The network's mission is to transform the U.S. financial services marketplace to help underbanked consumers achieve financial prosperity.

Youth ProgramsShow

American Bankers Association (ABA)
ABA provides bankers with the tools to help youngsters gain the necessary skills they need to become financially astute. Programs cover saving, budgeting, and credit, and are designed for students from kindergarten through college.

Building Your Future
The Actuarial Foundation, a nonprofit organization, offers its "Building Your Future," a financial literacy curriculum resource for high school teachers. "Building Your Future" is an Institute for Financial Literacy 2010 Curriculum of the Year Award winner.

Council for Economic Education
The Council for Economic Education provides personal finance and economics education through classroom curricula and the internet. For example, its Financial Fitness for Life curriculum presents key concepts in economics and personal finance, using a variety of real life examples appropriate to particular age groups.

Junior Achievement (JA)
JA brings volunteers into the classroom to make economic concepts relevant for students in grades K-12. JA offers financial literacy programs at every grade level in the classroom and after school. JA partners business volunteers with local classrooms, where JA volunteers facilitate lessons in financial literacy, workforce preparation, and economics. JA trains and prepares all volunteers and provides the lesson plans and materials.

LifeSmarts
The National Consumers League sponsors LifeSmarts, a national program that enlists the support of local partners to help teens become wise consumers. The LifeSmarts game-show style competition is for students in sixth grade through high school. The program complements the curriculum used in many middle schools and high schools and can be used as a rewarding and fun activity for classes, groups, clubs, and community organizations.

Mapping Your Future
This online counseling service that teaches students about borrowing, the basics of loans, loan eligibility requirements, repayment options, and ways to avoid delinquency.

Money Math: Lessons for Life
This is a curriculum supplement launched by a diverse partnership of private companies, nonprofit organizations, and the Treasury Department for students in grades 7-9 that addresses mathematical concepts using real-world financial scenarios.

Money Smart for Young People
This is a curriculum from the FDIC that features four free, age-appropriate curriculums that are designed to promote financial understanding in young people.

National Academy Foundation (NAF)
NAF sponsors the Academy of Finance, a school-to-career curriculum operating in 40 states and 300 high schools, serving over 20,000 students. The OCC partners with schools or school districts in 28 locations across the country to support academies of finance. Banks serve as advisory board members to local affiliates and employ hundreds of students every summer through the academy's internship program.

Studentaid.gov
This is a website from the U.S. Department of Education and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation containing information on obtaining money for higher education, including preparing for college, types of aid, qualifying for aid, applying for aid, and managing student loans.

Themint.org
This is a website from the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company that provides tools to help parents and educators teach children to manage money wisely and develop good financial habits.

Young Americans Center for Financial Education
This organization promotes the financial literacy of young people. The center offers real life experiences and hands-on programs to help students build life skills, work skills, and financial self-sufficiency.